middleware for cooperating mobile embedded systems

Mobile embedded systems, wireless communication, real-time systems, real-time scheduling, communication protocols, cooperation, reliability and fault-tolerance, middleware

Reusability evaluation of component-based embedded automative software systems

Magdeburg, Univ., Fak. für Informatik, Diss., 2012

A note on parallelizing the parameterized expectations algorithm

The parameterized expectations algorithm (PEA) involves a long simulation and a nonlinear least squares (NLS) fit, both embedded in a loop. Both steps are natural candidates for parallelization. This note shows that parallelization can lead to important speedups for the PEA. I provide example code for a simple model that can serve as a template for parallelization of more interesting models, as well as a download link for an image of a bootable CD that allows creation of a cluster and execution of the example code in minutes, with no need to install any software.

Financial intermediation in a model of growth through creative destruction

This paper presents an endogenous growth model in which the research activity is financed by intermediaries that are able to reduce the incidence of researcher's moral hazard. It is shown that financial activity is growth promoting because it increases research productivity. It is also found that a subsidy to the financial sector may have larger growth effects than a direct subsidy to research. Moreover, due to the presence of moral hazard, increasing the subsidy rate to R\&D may reduce the growth rate. I show that there exists a negative relation between the financing of innovation and the process of capital accumulation. Concerning welfare, the presence of two externalities of opposite sign steaming from financial activity may cause that the no-tax equilibrium provides an inefficient level of financial services. Thus, policies oriented to balance the effects of the two externalities will be welfare improving.

Ultrastructural characterisation of the cell wall of Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic plants

The plant cell wall is a strong fibrillar network that gives each cell its stable shape. It is constituted by a network of cellulose microfibrils embedded in a matrix of polysaccharides, such as xyloglucans. To enlarge, cells selectively loosen this network. Moreover, there is a pectin-rich intercellular material, the middle lamella, cementing together the walls of adjacent plant cells. Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) are a group of enzymes involved in the reorganisation of the cellulose-xyloglucan framework by catalysing cleavage and re-ligation of the xyloglucan chains in the plant cell wall, and are considered cell wall loosening agents. In the laboratory, it has been isolated and characterised a XTH gene, ZmXTH1, from an elongation root cDNA library of maize. To address the cellular function of ZmXTH1, transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants over-expressing ZmXTH1 (under the control of the CaMV35S promoter) were generated. The aim of the work performed was therefore the characterisation of these transgenic plants at the ultrastructural level, by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).The detailed cellular phenotype of transgenic plants was investigated by comparing ultra-thin transverse sections of basal stem of 5-weeks old plants of wild type (Col 0) and 35S-ZmXTH1 Arabidopsis plants. Transgenic plants show modifications in the cell walls, particularly a thicker middle lamella layer with respect the wild type plants, supporting the idea that the overexpression of ZmXTH1 could imply a pronounced wall-loosening. In sum, the work carried out reinforces the idea that ZmXTH1 is involved in the cell wall loosening process in maize.  

Learning the ropes and embracing the rules: CFSP institutions as arenas for learning and strategic socialisation

The aim of this article is to analyse those situations in which learning and socialisation take place within the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), in particular, at the level of experts in the Council Working Groups. Learning can explain the institutional development of CFSP and changes in the foreign policies of the Member States. Some scope conditions for learning and channels of institutionalisation are identified. Socialisation, resulting from learning within a group, is perceived as a strategic action by reflective actors. National diplomats, once they arrive in Brussels, learn the new code of conduct of their Working Groups. They are embedded in two environments and faced with two logics: the European one in the Council and the national one in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The empirical evidence supports the argument that neither rational nor sociological approaches alone can account for these processes.

Polysemy and Olympic audiences: lessons for sport marketing

Paper presented at the 2000 seminar of the International Chair in Olympism. Key topics of the seminar included references to the multiple narratives, embedded genres and layered symbols that are possible in an Olympic context.

Polisèmia i públic olímpic : lliçons de màrqueting esportiu

Ponència presentada al seminari de la Càtedra Internacional d'Olimpisme l'any 2000. Els temes principals del seminari inclouen les referències a la multiplicitat de discursos, la fixació de gèneres i la superposició de símbols que són possibles en el context olímpic.

From creative ideas to new emerging ventures: the process of identification and exploitation among finnish design entrepreneurs

This study focuses on identification and exploitation processes among Finnish design entrepreneurs (i.e. selfemployed industrial designers). More specifically, this study strives to find out what design entrepreneurs do when they create new ventures, how venture ideas are identified and how entrepreneurial processes are organized to identify and exploit such venture ideas in the given industrial context. Indeed, what does educated and creative individuals do when they decide to create new ventures, where do the venture ideas originally come from, and moreover, how are venture ideas identified and developed into viable business concepts that are introduced on the markets? From an academic perspective: there is a need to increase our understanding of the interaction between the identification and exploitation of emerging ventures, in this and other empirical contexts. Rather than assuming that venture ideas are constant in time, this study examines how emerging ideas are adjusted to enable exploitation in dynamic market settings. It builds on the insights from previous entrepreneurship process research. The interpretations from the theoretical discussion build on the assumption that the subprocesses of identification and exploitation interact, and moreover, they are closely entwined with each other (e.g. McKelvie & Wiklund, 2004, Davidsson, 2005). This explanation challenges the common assumption that entrepreneurs would first identify venture ideas and then exploit them (e.g. Shane, 2003). The assumption is that exploitation influences identification, just as identification influences exploitation. Based on interviews with design entrepreneurs and external actors (e.g. potential customers, suppliers and collaborators), it appears as identification and exploitation of venture ideas are carried out in close interaction between a number of actors, rather than alone by entrepreneurs. Due to their available resources, design entrepreneurs have a desire to focus on identification related activities and to find external actors that take care of exploitation related activities. The involvement of external actors may have a direct impact on decisionmaking and various activities along the processes of identification and exploitation, which is something that previous research does not particularly emphasize. For instance, Bhave (1994) suggests both operative and strategic feedback from the market, but does not explain how external parties are actually involved in the decisionmaking, and in carrying out various activities along the entrepreneurial process.

Price level convergence, purchasing power parity and multiple structural breaks: an application to US cities

This article provides a fresh methodological and empirical approach for assessing price level convergence and its relation to purchasing power parity (PPP) using annual price data for seventeen US cities. We suggest a new procedure that can handle a wide range of PPP concepts in the presence of multiple structural breaks using all possible pairs of real exchange rates. To deal with cross-sectional dependence, we use both cross-sectional demeaned data and a parametric bootstrap approach. In general, we find more evidence for stationarity when the parity restriction is not imposed, while imposing parity restriction provides leads toward the rejection of the panel stationar- ity. Our results can be embedded on the view of the Balassa-Samuelson approach, but where the slope of the time trend is allowed to change in the long-run. The median half-life point estimate are found to be lower than the consensus view regardless of the parity restriction.

Disseny d'un sistema HW/SW de control remot amb dispositius FPGA

El projecte que es presenta a continuació, té com a objectiu implementar un sistema HW/SW encastat en una FPGA, capaç d’executar funcions de control remot per infraroig en plataformes de televisió flexibles de Sony Corp. El disseny obtingut, s’incorporarà a un sistema més ampli de verificació i test de circuits impresos, dins del marc de producció SMD. La finalitat d’aquest projecte, és la realització d’un sistema flexible per a la implementació de comandaments de comunicació per infraroig amb circuits impresos. Prèviament, s’ha estudiat els conceptes bàsics referents a la implementació de sistemes amb FPGAs, la seva metodologia de desenvolupament i les principals característiques de la seva arquitectura. Com a especificacions, s’ha utilitzat l’estàndard de control remot per infraroig de Sony Corp SIRCS (Sony Infrared remote control system).

Benchmarks i mètriques d'avaluació de plataformes encastades multimèdia

Aquest projecte compara les possibilitats per a aplicacions multimèdia d'algunes de les arquitectures de processador que podem trobar en sistemes encastats. Per fer-ho s'ha seleccionat una sèrie de benchmarks que inclouen una mostra d'aplicacions multimèdia, així com un conjunt de benchmarks que ens permet mesurar aspectes d'un sistema operatiu GNU/Linux. També s'ha determinat quines haurien de ser les principals mètriques a considerar en el context dels sistemes encastats.

The Political Economy of Resource Rent Distribution

I model the link between political regime and level of diversification following a windfall of natural resource revenues. The explanatory variables I make use of are the political support functions embedded within each type of regime and the disparate levels of discretion, openness, transparency, and accountability of government. I show that a democratic government seeks to maximize the long-term consumption path of the representative consumer, in order to maximize its chances of re-election, while an authoritarian government, in the absence of any electoral mechanism of accountability, seeks to buy off and entrench a group of special interests loyal to the government and potent enough to ensure its short-term survival. Essentially the contrast in the approaches towards resource rent distribution comes down to a variation in political weights on aggregate welfare and rentierist special interests endogenized by distinct political support functions.

Estudio sobre la información de texto contenida en imágenes web

La indexació i la recerca de pàgines web es basa en l’anàlisi de text. La tecnologia actual encara no pot processar d’una manera eficient i suficientment ràpida el text contingut a les imatges de les pàgines web. Aquest fet planteja un problema important d’indexació però també d’inaccessibilitat. Per poder quantificar aquest problema hem desenvolupat una aplicació software que ens permet realitzar un estudi sobre aquesta situació. Hem utilitzat aquest software per analitzar un conjunt de pàgines web representatives de la situació actual a Internet. Aquests resultats obtinguts s’han analitzat i comparat amb estudis anteriors.

Desenvolupament d'una plataforma web per a integrar serveis de neuroimatge al PIC (Port d'Informació Científica)

El projecte ha consistit en el disseny i implementació d'una arquitectura/plataforma d'integració dels serveis d'emmagatzemament i postprocessament d'imatge mèdica que oferix el grup així com la visualització, anonimització, transferència d'arxius... basat en una interfície web com a frontend de la plataforma. Els servis que requereixen interacció gràfica han estat implementats mitjançant tècniques d'exportació d'escriptori remotament a la web i altres s'han implementat per tal que funcionin amb el cluster de màquines del que disposa el PIC.